Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 18 of 22 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,431
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $37k less ($87,400 vs $124,700)
Rent averages $75/mo less ($851 vs $926)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 89°F
Cons
Median income trails Topeka by $16,781/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 5.0%)
Topeka, KS
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.9 pts lower (5.0%)
45% less violent crime than Cleveland
Households earn $16,781 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$37k less
$87,400 vs $124,700
Topeka
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 88.4 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Income
$16,781
$54,052 vs $37,271/yr
Topeka
Violent Crime
45% lower
856.5 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Topeka
Unemployment
6.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 11.9% unemployment
Topeka
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.5°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $124,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $926 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $54,052 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 225⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 88.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Topeka leads 18 of 22 categories. Cleveland wins 4 and Topeka wins 18. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Cleveland to Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $124,700 median home), income ($37,271 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Topeka, KS are about 757 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.